Job Title: Head of East African Restoration Programs Line Manager: Director of Restoration Projects Position Type: Full-time East Africa-based preferred: with flexibility for coordination across various global time zones and up to 20% travel as needed Application instructions: Please follow the full instructions at the end of this job advert, failure of which may disqualify a candidate. The Organization: NATURAL STATE is a not-for-profit organisation head-quartered in the savannas of Kenya with the aim of catalysing nature restoration globally. We design and test new nature financing mechanisms and the supporting impact monitoring systems, and train local leaders to access this finance and deliver large scale restoration projects. Our location on the doorstep of vast ecosystems means that our team can be in the field every day, testing solutions in the places, and with the people, facing the challenges. Founded in 2021, we have built a team of 50+ team members who have a wealth of experience and proven track records in the fields of landscape monitoring, nature financing mechanism creation, the development of IT solutions, and the design and implementation of leading conservation education training programmes. It is important to us to nurture a new generation of experts in the region, so we also recruit talented career starters from the local communities who undergo rigorous on-the-job training under the wings of our more experienced team members. Our partnerships make us stronger, and we believe that by bringing together the best-in-class partners, we will accelerate the creation of the transformative solutions needed to address the greatest issues facing humanity. We will scale our impact by making our solutions open science, packaging them up for use by the broader sector and into training programmes that we provide for local leaders to mobilise action on the ground. We have a supporting 501(c)(3) non-profit organisation in the US. For more information, visit www.naturalstate.org. Job Description: As the Head of East African Restoration Programs at Natural State, you will lead our ambitious ecosystem restoration and reforestation projects, with a focus on rewilding and reforestation strategies to enhance biodiversity and support climate resilience in Kenya. This role oversees relationships with external teams and partners to drive measurable impact. In this highly cross-functional position, you will collaborate closely with teams across Natural State to ensure that projects are supported from design through implementation. Key Deliverables: Lead and implement a strategy for scaling regional forestry and rewilding partner operations in East Africa. Oversee projects and establish consistency and best practices across projects to maximize ecological and community impacts. Serve as a primary leadership liaison with reforestation partners, local communities, and government stakeholders. Build and maintain strong relationships with community leaders, government officials, NGOs, and strategic stakeholders to ensure that projects align with local values and operational needs. Facilitate accountability to agreements, ensuring transparency and mutual support with local partners to overcome challenges and drive success. Act as an advocate for Natural State’s impact on ecosystem restoration, representing Coordinate with the Natural State Impact Monitoring team to deploy and iterate on carbon and biodiversity restoration capabilities on the ground Develop and iterate on monitoring and reporting processes in collaboration with our Impact Monitoring team to maintain accountability for milestones. Coordinate internal and external reporting to meet rigorous standards for biodiversity and carbon verification, supporting long-term ecosystem and financial outcomes. Iterate on monitoring technologies and processes with Impact Monitoring to develop science-based and field-informed processes for data generation. Coordinate with Natural State Nature Finance team to identify potential buyers and gather feedback on project marketing. Required Qualifications: Minimum master’s degree in environmental science (or similar). Proven expertise in ecosystem restoration and reforestation, with a strong understanding of nature-based carbon markets and biodiversity metrics preferred. 8+ years of experience leading teams and managing science-based projects across multiple geographic locations. Experience managing diverse partnerships, including local communities, NGOs, and government stakeholders, with a focus on trust-building and collaboration. Strong communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to coordinate across cultural and organizational lines. High emotional intelligence and respect for local cultures and ecological systems. Ability to travel internationally, including remote locations (up to 25%). Excellent research and writing skills. Compensation: A competitive salary will be offered, commensurate with experience, qualifications and location. Application process: To apply, send a detailed cover letter describing how you meet the above qualifications and a resume/CV as one document to recruitment-ke@naturalstate.org Deadline: Friday 31st January 2025. How to apply Application process: To apply, send a detailed cover letter describing how you meet the above qualifications and a resume/CV as one document to recruitment-ke@naturalstate.org Deadline: Friday 31st January 2025.